The NPR podcast, “The Influence You Have” argues that people have more influence on each other than they perceive because they are, essentially, self centered. The prodcast claims that when asked to do something uncomfortable, people are too focused on their emotions and insecurities to realize the people they are interacting with feel the same way. One such study that supports this idea took place in Penn Station, in which research students were asked to approach people and ask them to fill out a questionnaire. Most were reluctant to do so due to fear or rejection and believed that only a small number of people would agree to their request. However, to their surprise, many people agreed to fill out the questionnaire. The researchers rationalize that although the students administering were afraid of rejection, the people they were confronting were afraid of appearing rude for saying no, compeling them to say yes.
The podcast also argues people will say yes more often when put “on the spot”, citing a study in which fundraisers knocked on people’s doors. Some of the participants were aware a fundraiser was coming and avoided answering the door. Others were not alerted and answered the door. Much of the money gained by the charity were from people who were not expecting to see them, leading the researchers to believe they simply gave because they were pressured to do so.
Listening to this podcast reminded me of the time I volunteered on a political campaign: a position that required me to knock on people’s doors, tell them about the candidate, and gague their support afterward. I was always nervous to knock on people’s doors, since a weekday evening is typically the time people prefer to be left alone. I had also heard stories of people being verbally threatened for knocking on doors too. However, in my experience, people were mostly receptive to what I had to say. This may be because seeing a teenager (or two) at their doors with flyers in hand, and sometimes looking nervous, had a more profound impact on them then I realized at the time.
I thought your post summarized the podcast in a very clear way. I found the part of the podcast when they mention donating to charity quite interesting and I liked how you elaborated on that section. While it is good that people do not want to say no to donating to charity, it is upsetting that money is not always donated out of altruism. I also enjoyed your personal account and felt it applied to the podcast well.
Hi Ishaan, I can also relate to your canvassing story. For high school, I had to complete political service hours. After reading the options I had for canvassing, I became terrified because I knew that I would never be able to do the door-to-door option that you did. Instead, I opted for a phone-a-thon, the option where the only interaction is through the phone. I guess your experience of seeing the person physically changed your experience because I felt that phone calls made the person twice as irratable. I feel like this presents new questions like if an interaction in person vs. over the phone has the ability to alter the effects of egocentric bias.